Tsahi Halevi

Israeli singer Tsahi Halevi won critical praise for his first screen acting role as a Israeli agent in "Bethlehem" (2013), which led to roles in American and international features and television, including "Fauda" (Yes Oh/Netflix, 2015- ). Born March 12, 1975 in the city of Petah Tikva, Israel, he traveled throughout his early childhood due to his father's position with the Prime Minister's Office. Halevi's initial rise to fame came as a singer, first with the dance/percussion troupe Mayumana, and later, as a solo vocalist and competitor on the Israeli version of "The Voice" (Channel 2/Reshet, 2012- ). He reached the final rounds during the show's debut season, and though he did not win, Halevi issued an album, "Kivvunim" ("Directions," 2012), and explored stage acting. In 2013, he and fellow acting novices Shadi Mar'i and Haitham Omari gave powerful performances in "Bethlehem," a tense political drama about the relationship between an Israeli officer (Halevi) and his Palestinian information (Mar'i); the film was selected as Israel's entry for the Best Foreign Film Oscar at the 86th Academy Awards and won six Ophir Awards - the Israeli equivalent of the Oscar- including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Halevi. He soon settled into steady work as an actor in both American and international projects, often playing intense, authoritative men in series like "Dig" (USA Networks, 2015) and "Mermaids" (HOT, 2014- ). Halevi also played a small role on the popular Israeli drama "Hostages" (Channel 10, 2013- ), but found greater exposure as a crime boss on "Mossad 101" (Channel 2/Reshet, 2015- ) and as a Special Forces agent involved with his commander's wife on the political drama "Fauda." In 2018, he returned to feature work in "The Angel," a drama about Ashraf Marwan (played by Marwan Kenzari), who served as both special adviser to Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat and as an informant for Israeli Intelligence.